Soul and Spirit

Feds Must Speak Plain English

Feds must stop writing gibberish under new law

One of my first thoughts upon reading that headline: “Yeah, right.”

Reflecting current family realities, another thought wasn’t long in coming: “Where do I apply?”

My thoughts aside, here’s some of what Calvin Woodward had to write for the AP:

The federal government is rolling out a new official language of sorts: plain English.

That’s right: Pursuant to regulations promulgated thereunder and commencing in accordance with a statute signed herein by President Barack Obama, the government shall be precluded from writing the pompous gibberish heretofore evidenced, to the extent practicable.

That sentence contains 11 new language no-nos.

Obama signed the Plain Writing Act last fall after decades of effort by a cadre of passionate grammarians in the civil service to jettison the jargon.

It takes full effect in October, when federal agencies must start writing plainly in all new or substantially revised documents produced for the public.

The government will still be allowed to write nonsensically to itself.

Now that is a funny line. And telling, too. But never mind. Read it all

Death to Osama Bin Laden!

(Yes, I know he’s already dead.)

Osama Bin Laden deserved to die.

So do I. And you. (God handed down those verdicts, not Mark Roth.)

Now, who shall rejoice in your death or mine?

Osama’s death was justice finally served.

True enough, I’m sure.

Now, how soon shall my fully-deserved justice be served on me? And who shall rejoice at it?

As I asked late last night, I ask again to Christ’s disciples: Dare a disciple of Jesus rejoice in the death of an unbeliever?

Let me put it to you another way: A man goes to hell and those with the Redeemer-given “ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18) rejoice?

If that’s the case, those who ought to be “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20) have grown dreadfully and dangerously out-of-sync with God’s heart.

Yes, but what about David?

I don’t understand fully all the God-instructed slaughter carried out by some of His people in the Old Testament.

But I refer you again to Jesus’ statements in places such as Matthew 5:43-45: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies….”

Why are we more committed to something less than that?

I know David waged his wars and wrote his psalms against his enemies.

If I wish to live by that dimension of David’s life, it seems I should also live others such as these:

  • Animal sacrifices for sin
  • Strict Sabbath observances

Well, I really must get to work. I have more to say on this subject, but it will have to wait.

Oh, hang on a bit.

For the record, this isn’t about politics and nationalism. It isn’t about faulting or justifying the United States for taking out Osama Bin Laden.

This is about Christians. And about God’s ways for His people.

Dead: Osama Bin Laden

I wrote this evening to our congregational email list:

I learned this evening that US forces finally succeeded in a years-long mission.

I’m curious how Christians respond.

So far, what I’ve seen isn’t encouraging.

Dare a disciple of Jesus rejoice in the death of an unbeliever?

Can we muster any grief at the thought of what Osama Bin Laden likely learned after his death?

Are we so unable to connect the dots between his death and Christ’s?

So another man for whom Christ died enters eternity, almost certainly Christ-less.

And Christians rejoice and celebrate and cheer?!

How the Father must grieve!

Osama Bin Laden was an enemy of the cross of Christ, of that I am sure.

But was he too great an enemy for Matthew 5:43-45 to apply?

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

“That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”

I have more to say.

But that’s enough for now.

Second Guessing Tim Miller

Be careful about indulging in that.

No, I’m not saying there is no grounds for analyzing Timothy David Miller’s actions that resulted in his arrest last week.

I’m just saying that the human tendency to second guess and armchair quarterback after the fact can be dangerous exercises in which to engage.

Here, consider this:

second guessers and armchair quarterbacks

That’s my opinion. I forget too often. But I’ve tried to remember in this case.

USA v. Timothy David Miller

Is Timo Miller on the right side?

What’s the deal with Timothy David Miller’s alleged involvement in Lisa Miller‘s alleged international parental kidnapping of her own biological daughter (a minor of whom she had legal custody)?

I don’t know, even though I’ve read plenty of news accounts and other online commentary.

Is Timo guilty as accused?

I don’t know that either. After reading a document purporting to be the official Read it all

Above all, love God!